DOCSLIB.ORG

Update on Sustainable Forest Management

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Update on Sustainable Forest Management May 2020 PC 128/INF/3 xx E PROGRAMME COMMITTEE Hundred and Twenty-eighth Session Rome, 18-22 May 2020 Update on Sustainable Forest Management Queries on the substantive content of this document may be addressed to: Ms Mette Wilkie Director Forestry Policy and Resources Division Tel: +39 06570 50473 This document may be printed on demand following an FAO initiative to minimize its environmental impact and promote greener communications. This and other documents can be consulted at www.fao.org NC848/e 2 PC 128/INF/3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 examines the status of, and trends in more than 60 forest-related variables in 236 countries and territories for the period 1990–2020. The Key Findings, released in early May 2020, indicate that while the annual rate of net loss of forests has decreased substantially over the past 30 years, deforestation and forest degradation continue to take place at alarming rates, primarily in the tropics and subtropics. This contributes significantly to the on-going loss of biodiversity, impacts livelihoods and exacerbates climate change. The State of the World’s Forests 2020 Forests, Biodiversity and People, to be released on 22 May 2020, builds on this assessment combined with a literature review and commissioned studies to examine progress in meeting global targets and goals related to forest biodiversity. This document presents the key conclusions of the above two publications and outlines recent global developments and their implications for FAO’s work on forests and trees. GUIDANCE SOUGHT FROM THE PROGRAMME COMMITTEE The Committee is invited to provide guidance on additional actions that FAO might take to help countries reduce the rates of deforestation and meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to forests as well as the Global Forest Goals. Draft Advice The Committee: noted the key findings of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 and the State of the World’s Forests 2020; encouraged FAO to continue providing support to countries to prevent, halt and reverse deforestation and forest degradation; and recommended that FAO’s new Strategic Framework adequately reflect priority actions needed for the conservation, improvement and sustainable utilization of forest resources. PC 128/INF/3 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Paragraphs I. Introduction 1–3 II. Status of the world’s forests 4–14 III. Recent global developments with implications for FAO’s work on forests 15–26 IV. FAO’s forestry programme 27–28 V. Issues to be addressed 29–33 4 PC 128/INF/3 I. Introduction 1. FAO’s work on forestry is guided by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the associated goals and targets; the Paris Agreement; the Aichi Biodiversity Targets; the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–20301 with its six Global Forest Goals; the FAO Strategic Framework and the priorities set by the Committee on Forestry. 2. It is closely aligned with the UN Forest Instrument2 and centres around the concept of sustainable forest management and its seven thematic elements3. 3. The Committee on Forestry, at its 24th Session in July 20184 supported the following eight thematic priority areas for FAO’s work in forestry in 2018–2021, stressing the need for a complementary and integrated approach for agriculture and forests: a) halting deforestation globally, particularly from agriculture; b) addressing forest degradation and promoting sustainable forest management; c) increasing forest cover through restoration, reforestation and afforestation; d) improving forest-based livelihoods, prosperity and human well-being; e) mitigation of and adaptation to climate change and strengthening resilience of ecosystems and communities to climate change through forests; f) policy coherence i.e. mainstreaming forests through cross-sectoral and interagency approaches at all levels; g) increased means of implementation from all sources; and h) good governance frameworks at all levels. II. Status of the world’s forests A. The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 4. Since its creation in 1946, FAO has been monitoring the world’s forest resources through periodical assessments conducted in cooperation with its member countries. The Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020 (FRA 2020), the latest of these assessments, examines the status of, and trends in, more than 60 forest-related variables in 236 countries and territories for the period 1990-2020. 5. The data in FRA 2020 – the “backbone” of the assessment – have been obtained through a transparent, traceable reporting process involving a well-established network of officially nominated national correspondents. The application of a standardized reporting methodology enables the monitoring of change over time in parameters such as forest area, management, ownership and use, and the aggregation of data at the regional and global levels. 6. The information provided by FRA presents a comprehensive view of the world’s forests and the ways in which the resource is changing and supports the development of sound policies, practices and investments affecting forests and forestry. 7. In addition to the country reports, FAO also undertakes a global remote sensing survey together with countries in order to obtain comparable information (in time and in terms of assessment method) at regional, global and eco-zone level. The results of this assessment will be available in 2021. 1 https://undocs.org/A/RES/71/285 2 https://undocs.org/A/RES/62/98 and https://undocs.org/A/RES/70/199 3 The elements are (i) extent of forest resources; (ii) forest biological diversity; (iii) forest health and vitality; (iv) productive functions of forest resources; (v) protective functions of forest resources; (vi) socio-economic functions of forests; and (vii) legal, policy and institutional framework. 4 COFO/2018/REP PC 128/INF/3 5 8. Key findings of FRA 2020 include the following: a) Forests cover an estimated 4.06 billion hectares equivalent to 30.8 percent of the land area, down from 32.5 percent in 1990. b) Since 1990, some 420 million hectares of forest have been lost through conversion to other land uses, but the rate of deforestation has decreased substantially in the past 30 years. In the most recent five-year period (2015–2020), the annual rate of deforestation was estimated at 10 million hectares, down from 12 million hectares in 2010–2015, 15 million hectares per year in 2000–2010 and 16 million hectares per year in 1990–2000. c) Afforestation and natural expansion of forests continues to take place in some areas, but at a slower rate than deforestation, resulting in a net loss of forest area globally. The net loss of forests between 1990 and 2020 was 178 million hectares, an area about the size of Libya. The rate of net forest loss declined from 7.8 million hectares per year in the decade 1990–2000 to 5.2 million hectares per year in 2000–2010 and 4.7 million hectares per year in 2010–2020 due to a reduction in deforestation in some countries and increases in forest area in others. d) Although the net loss is decreasing, the world is not on track to meet the target of the UN Strategic Plan for Forests 2017–2030 to increase forest area by 3 percent worldwide by 2030 (relative to 2015). e) In 2015 (the latest date of data reported by countries), around 98 million hectares of forest were affected by fires. These fires occurred mainly in the tropics, where they affected about 4 percent of the forest area. More than two-thirds of the total forest area burned was located in South America and Africa. B. The State of the World’s Forests 2020: Forests, Biodiversity and People 9. This year’s edition of The State of the World’s Forests (SOFO) focused on the linkages between forests, biodiversity and people, and assessed progress towards goals and targets related to forest biodiversity. It built on the FRA 2020 results, complemented by a literature search and several commissioned analyses and case studies. The key messages include the following: a) Agricultural expansion continues to be the main driver of deforestation and forest fragmentation and the associated loss of forest biodiversity. Large-scale commercial agriculture (primarily cattle ranching and cultivation of soya bean and oil palm) accounted for 40 percent of tropical deforestation between 2000 and 2010 and local subsistence agriculture for another 33 percent. Yet, the resilience of human food systems and their capacity to adapt to future change depends on that very biodiversity – including dryland-adapted shrub and tree species that help combat desertification, forest-dwelling insects, bats and bird species that pollinate crops, trees with extensive root systems in mountain ecosystems that prevent soil erosion, and mangrove species that provide resilience against flooding in coastal areas. With climate change exacerbating the risks to food systems, the role of forests in capturing and storing carbon and mitigating climate change is of ever-increasing importance for the agricultural sector. b) Feeding humanity and conserving and sustainably using ecosystems are complementary and closely interdependent goals. Forests conserve water, mitigate climate change and provide habitats for many pollinators, which are essential for sustainable food production. It is estimated that 75 percent of the world’s leading food crops, representing 35 percent of global food production, benefit from animal pollination. Worldwide, around 1 billion people depend to some extent on wild foods such as wild meat, edible insects, edible plant products, mushrooms and fish, which often contain high levels of key micronutrients. The value of forest foods as a nutritional resource is not limited to low- and middle-income countries; more than 100 million people in the 6 PC 128/INF/3 European Union (EU) regularly consume wild food. Some 2.4 billion people – in both urban and rural settings – use wood-based energy for cooking c) We need to transform our food systems to halt deforestation and the loss of biodiversity.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Non-Timber Forest Products
    Agrodok 39 Non-timber forest products the value of wild plants Tinde van Andel This publication is sponsored by: ICCO, SNV and Tropenbos International © Agromisa Foundation and CTA, Wageningen, 2006. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photocopy, microfilm or any other means, without written permission from the publisher. First edition: 2006 Author: Tinde van Andel Illustrator: Bertha Valois V. Design: Eva Kok Translation: Ninette de Zylva (editing) Printed by: Digigrafi, Wageningen, the Netherlands ISBN Agromisa: 90-8573-027-9 ISBN CTA: 92-9081-327-X Foreword Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are wild plant and animal pro- ducts harvested from forests, such as wild fruits, vegetables, nuts, edi- ble roots, honey, palm leaves, medicinal plants, poisons and bush meat. Millions of people – especially those living in rural areas in de- veloping countries – collect these products daily, and many regard selling them as a means of earning a living. This Agrodok presents an overview of the major commercial wild plant products from Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific. It explains their significance in traditional health care, social and ritual values, and forest conservation. It is designed to serve as a useful source of basic information for local forest dependent communities, especially those who harvest, process and market these products. We also hope that this Agrodok will help arouse the awareness of the potential of NTFPs among development organisations, local NGOs, government officials at local and regional level, and extension workers assisting local communities. Case studies from Cameroon, Ethiopia, Central and South Africa, the Pacific, Colombia and Suriname have been used to help illustrate the various important aspects of commercial NTFP harvesting.
    [Show full text]
  • THE FOREST for the TREES? Government Policies and the Misuse of Forest Resources
    THE FOREST FOR THE TREES? Government Policies and the Misuse of Forest Resources Robert Repotto VV () R L D R IE S C) U R CES INS T ITUT Q THE FOREST FOR THE TREES? Government Policies and the Misuse of Forest Resources Robert Repetto WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE A Center for Policy Research May 1988 Kathleen Courrier Publications Director Don Strandberg Marketing Manager Hyacinth Billings Production Supervisor FAO Photo Cover Each World Resources Institute Report represents a timely, scientific treatment of a subject of public concern. WRI takes responsibility for choosing the study topics and guaranteeing its authors and researchers freedom of inquiry. It also solicits and responds to the guidance of advisory panels and expert reviewers. Unless otherwise stated, however, all the interpretation and findings set forth in WRI publications are those of the authors. Copyright © 1988 World Resources Institute. All rights reserved. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 88-050465 ISBN 0-915825-25-2 Contents I. Overview 1 The Extent and Rate of Deforestation 3 The Reasons for Deforestation in Tropical Countries 12 Forest Sector Policies 17 Policies Outside the Forest Sector 27 Conclusions and Recommendations 32 Policy Reforms by National Governments 32 Policy Changes by Industrial Countries and International Agencies 40 II. Country Studies 43 Indonesia 43 Malaysia 52 Philippines 59 China 66 Brazil 73 West Africa 81 United States 90 References 99 Acknowledgments e wish to thank the authors of Gregersen, Roberto Lopez C, Norman Myers, country case studies, whose schol- Jeffrey Sayer, John Spears, William Beattie and W arly insights contributed so much Roger Sedjo.
    [Show full text]
  • Impact of Non-Timber Forest Product Use on the Tree Community in North-Western Vietnam
    Article Impact of Non-Timber Forest Product Use on the Tree Community in North-Western Vietnam Thi Hoa Hong Dao 1,2,* and Dirk Hölscher 1,3 1 University of Goettingen, Tropical Silviculture and Forest Ecology, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; [email protected] 2 Forest Inventory and Planning, Faculty of Silviculture, Vietnam National University of Forestry, 024840 Hanoi, Vietnam 3 University of Goettingen, Centre of Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Use, 37077 Göttingen, Germany * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +49-(0)551-39-33652; Fax: +49-(0)551-39-4019 Received: 18 May 2018; Accepted: 16 July 2018; Published: 18 July 2018 Abstract: Trees providing non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are valuable forest resources, and their management can support conservation objectives. We analyzed the abundance of tree species providing NTFPs, recognized by local H’mong people, in both the strictly protected core zone and the low-intensity forest use buffer zone in north-western Vietnam. We identified 249 tree species, of which 48% were classified as NTFP species. The abundance of 35% of the NTFP tree species was significantly correlated with footpaths, indicating an influence of human activity. A multiple logistic regression model indicates that using NTFP trees for food, medicine, and root harvesting, increases the probability of an NTFP tree absence in the buffer zone. In contrast, the high density of species, and collections of fruit, leaf, and resin decrease the probability of an NTFP tree absence in the buffer zone. Further assessment with a logistic model indicated that NTFP use has lower impacts on the tree community than timber use.
    [Show full text]
  • Readiness Preparation Proposal for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
    Readiness Preparation Proposal for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation Version 2 Working Draft Date of Submission: June 9, 2014 Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) Republic of Paraguay R-PP Template - Version 6 Disclaimer: The World Bank and the UN-REDD Programme do not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in the Readiness Preparation Proposals (R-PPs) submitted by REDD Country Participants and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any consequence of their use. The boundaries, colors, denominations, and other information shown on any map in the R-PPs do not imply on the part of the World Bank any judgment on the legal status of any territory or the endorsement or acceptance of such boundaries. Note: This version is for use by: 1) FCPF REDD-plus Country Participants submitting revised or new R-PPs to the FCPF FMT for PC 12 meeting in Colombia, June 27 – 29, 2012 or afterwards. 2) UN-REDD countries submitting National Programs, as agreed. R-PP Paraguay Version of June 9, 2014 1 Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 6 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ....................................................................................... 9 Component 1: Organize and Consult ............................................................................................ 10 1a. National Readiness Management Arrangements .................................................................... 10 1b.
    [Show full text]
  • Quantifying Impacts of National-Scale Afforestation on Carbon Budgets In
    Article Quantifying Impacts of National-Scale Afforestation on Carbon Budgets in South Korea from 1961 to 2014 Moonil Kim 1,2, Florian Kraxner 2 , Yowhan Son 3, Seong Woo Jeon 3, Anatoly Shvidenko 2, Dmitry Schepaschenko 2 , Bo-Young Ham 1, Chul-Hee Lim 4 , Cholho Song 3 , Mina Hong 3 and Woo-Kyun Lee 3,* 1 Environmental GIS/RS Center, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea 2 Ecosystem Services and Management Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria 3 Department of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02481, Korea 4 Institute of Life Science and Natural Resources, Korea University, Seoul 02481, Korea * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +82-02-3290-3016 Received: 31 May 2019; Accepted: 9 July 2019; Published: 11 July 2019 Abstract: Forests play an important role in regulating the carbon (C) cycle. The main objective of this study was to quantify the effects of South Korean national reforestation programs on carbon budgets. We estimated the changes in C stocks and annual C sequestration in the years 1961–2014 using Korea-specific models, a forest cover map (FCM), national forest inventory (NFI) data, and climate data. Furthermore, we examined the differences in C budgets between Cool forests (forests at elevations above 700 m) and forests in lower-altitude areas. Simulations including the effects of climate conditions on forest dynamics showed that the C stocks of the total forest area increased from 6.65 Tg C in 1961 to 476.21 Tg C in 2014. The model developed here showed a high degree of spatiotemporal reliability.
    [Show full text]
  • Illegal Logging: a Market-Based Analysis of Trafficking in Illegal Timber
    The author(s) shown below used Federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Justice and prepared the following final report: Document Title: Illegal Logging: A Market-Based Analysis of Trafficking in Illegal Timber Author(s): William M. Rhodes, Ph.D. ; Elizabeth P. Allen ; Myfanwy Callahan Document No.: 215344 Date Received: August 2006 Award Number: ASP TR-002 This report has not been published by the U.S. Department of Justice. To provide better customer service, NCJRS has made this Federally- funded grant final report available electronically in addition to traditional paper copies. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department. Opinions or points of view expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. Illegal Logging: A Market-Based Analysis of Trafficking in Illegal Timber Contract # 2004 TO 164 FINAL REPORT May 31, 2006 Prepared for Jennifer L. Hanley International Center National Institute of Justice 810 Seventh Street NW Washington, D.C. 20431 Prepared by William M. Rhodes, Ph.D. Elizabeth P. Allen, B.A. Myfanwy Callahan, M.S. Abt Associates Inc. 55 Wheeler Street Cambridge, MA 02138 This document is a research report submitted to the U.S. Department of Justice. This report has not been published by the Department.
    [Show full text]
  • Degradation of Ecosystem Services and Deforestation in Landscapes with and Without Incentive-Based Forest Conservation in the Ecuadorian Amazon
    Article Degradation of Ecosystem Services and Deforestation in Landscapes With and Without Incentive-Based Forest Conservation in the Ecuadorian Amazon Paúl Eguiguren 1,2,* , Richard Fischer 2 and Sven Günter 1,2 1 Institute of Silviculture, Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Sciences, TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising, Germany; [email protected] 2 Thünen Institute of International Forestry and Forest Economics, 21031 Hamburg, Germany; richard.fi[email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 20 March 2019; Accepted: 17 May 2019; Published: 22 May 2019 Abstract: Anthropogenic activities such as logging or forest conversion into agricultural lands are affecting Ecuadorian Amazon forests. To foster private and communal conservation activities an economic incentive-based conservation program (IFC) called Socio Bosque was established. Existing analyses related to conservation strategies are mainly focused on deforestation; while degradation and the role of IFC to safeguard ecosystem services are still scarce. Further on, there is a lack of landscape-level studies taking into account potential side effects of IFC on different forest types. Therefore we assessed ecosystem services (carbon stocks, timber volume) and species richness in landscapes with and without IFC. Additionally, we evaluated potential side-effects of IFC in adjacent forest types; hypothesizing potential leakage effects of IFC. Finally, we tested if deforestation rates decreased after IFC implementation. Forest inventories were conducted in 72 plots across eight landscapes in the Ecuadorian Central Amazon with and without IFC. Plots were randomly selected within three forest types (old-growth, logged and successional forests). In each plot all individuals with a diameter at breast height greater than 10 cm were measured.
    [Show full text]
  • 6.3 Addressing Forest Degradation and Timber Deficits in Ghana
    ETFRN NEws 53: ApRil 2012 6.3 addressing forest degradation and timber deficits in Ghana THOMAS F.G. INSAIDOO, MIRJAM A.F. ROS-TONEN, LuCIEN HOOGENBOSCH and EMMANuEL ACHEAMPONG reforestation is an essential component of forest policy where forests are severely degraded and development aims are to be achieved. This is the case in Ghana, which has only 5% (395,000 hectares, or ha) of its primary forests left and where 30% of the population lives on less than a dollar per day. This article is based on insights obtained from several studies (hoogebosch 2010; Grupstra 2012; insaidoo, ros-Tonen and acheampong in press, a; insaidoo, ros-Tonen and acheampong in press, b) jointly carried out by Tropenbos international Ghana, kwame nkrumah university of science and Technology and the university of amsterdam. it reviews the main characteristics and outcomes of various reforestation schemes in Ghana and identifies lessons from their successes and challenges. Data was obtained through desk studies, open and semi-structured interviews with officials of the Forestry commission (Fc) and the Forest plantation Development centre and surveys among target groups. separate male and female focus groups were held in the study villages, where elements of the poverty-Forests linkages Toolkit (shepherd and Blockhus 2008) were for parTicipanTs‘ employed to assess the relative importance of various commiTmenT, iT livelihood sources. is imporTanT To policy context improve The long- in Ghana, deforestation has increased at an alarming rate Term prospecTs since 1983, when a long period of drought triggered large of The various reforesTaTion fire outbreaks in the country. The aoF (2010) estimates schemes.
    [Show full text]
  • The DC Forester
    The DC Forester Winter 2016 Upcoming Events ALLEGHENY SAF WIN- TER MEETING—FEB 17, 2016 COLLABORATIVE RES- TORATION WORK- SHOP—APR 26-28, 2016 GENE CONSERVATON OF TREE SPECIES WORKSHOP—MAY 16- 19, 2016 Changing of the guard: David Gwaze, 2016 Chair; Joe Reddan, outgoing 2015 Chair and Rocco Saracina Chair elect for 2017 at the Annual Holiday Party Contents NCSAF Chair’s Message: HONORING KURT 2 GOTTSCHALK Greetings to Everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday season. 2015 HOLIDAY 3 PARTY I am honored and excited to represent the National Capital Society of American For- esters as your Chair for 2016. NCSAF CHAIR’S 3 First, I want to thank Joe Reddan, the outgoing Chair, for his leadership and his efforts MESSAGE CONT to further the profession. Under Joe’s leadership NCSAF had a successful year: con- ducting six luncheon seminars, conducting the annual wine tasting and auction fund PARIS AGREEMENT 4 raising event, organizing the annual intern luncheon and organizing the holiday party. Second, I want to take the opportunity to welcome our incoming executive team and NCSAF LEADER- 4 thank them for volunteering their time. SHIP I am fortunate to be working with a dedicated executive team, some who have served YEAR IN REVIEW 5 in the past in various capacities in the NCSAF. Also, our outgoing Chair continues to be active by taking on the responsibility co-Chair of the Program Committee. Having NCSAF OPEN EX- 6 these people will certainly make my job less challenging. Also, I hope that my experi- ECUTIVE POSITIONS ence in SAF will serve me well in this position: National SAF Communications Com- mittee member, NCSAF Vice-Chair, NCSAF Chair of the Fundraising Committee, and 2015 HOLIDAY 6 Missouri SAF Program Committee Member.
    [Show full text]
  • Forestry Department
    Forestry Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Fire Management Working Paper FAO at the Vth International Wildland Fire Conference Sun City, South Africa (9-13 May 2011) Rome, Italy, 2011 Forest Resources Development Service Working Paper FM/27/E Forest Management Division FAO, Rome, Italy Forestry Department TABLE OF CONTENT INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1 LIVING WITH FIRE: ADDRESSING GLOBAL CHANGE THROUGH INTEGRATED FIRE MANAGEMENT ................................................................................................................................ 1 OPENING ADDRESS ......................................................................................................................... 9 Jose Antonio Prado, Director of Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division, Forestry Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) .............. 9 PLENARY PAPERS ........................................................................................................................... 11 PLENARY PAPER 1 .......................................................................................................................... 13 INTEGRATED FIRE MANAGEMENT AND REDUCED EMISSIONS THROUGH DEFORESTATION AND DEGRADATION PROGRAM (REDD PLUS). Felician Kilahama .... 13 PLENARY PAPER 2 .........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Sustainable Production of Afforestation and Reforestation to Salvage Land Degradation in Asunafo District, Ghana
    JOURNAL OF DEGRADED AND MINING LANDS MANAGEMENT ISSN: 2339-076X (p); 2502-2458 (e), Volume 5, Number 1 (October 2017): 955-964 DOI:10.15243/jdmlm.2017.051.955 Research Article Sustainable production of afforestation and reforestation to salvage land degradation in Asunafo District, Ghana Kenneth Peprah* University for Development Studies, Faculty of Integrated Development Studies,Wa Campus, P. O. Box 520, Wa, Upper West Region, Ghana. W/Africa * [email protected] Received 01 August 2017, Accepted 30 August 2017 Abstract: Savannazation and marshy areas are common features of once evergreen and deciduous forest of Ghana. Attempts to salvage such degraded lands have considered replacement with closed tree canopy. This study aims at examining efforts at Asunafo forest area to use tree planting of different species to remedy land degradation in a swamp area colonized by shrubs and grasses. Study methods include the use of field visits and transect walk, photography, archival data, key informant interview, community meeting and socio-economic survey for sourcing primary data for analysis. The results indicate that where the swamp is vegetated by shrubs of different kinds, afforestation shows rapid success. And, where the swamp is dominated by grass species, afforestation success is slow. Terminalia ivorensis, Triplochiton scleroxylon and Ceiba pentandra registered quick impacts in height growth, stem development, canopy formation where the degraded land was originally covered with shrubs. Trees grow well when weed competition for essential resources is reduced through weed control. The study concludes that tree planting in swamp area is sustainable land management practice to redeem land degradation. Also, environmental benefits are imperatives but host communities derived near to zero social and economic benefits because such projects happen outside clean development mechanisms’ arrangement.
    [Show full text]
  • Forests and Sustainable Forest Management
    Number 11 · April 2016 Evaluation Insights are informal working papers issued by the Network on Forests and Development Evaluation of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily Sustainable Forest reflect the official policy or position of the OECD DAC or its member countries. This paper is published under the responsibility of the Director of the Development Co- Management operation Directorate. Evaluation evidence on addressing Learn more about the DAC Evaluation Network at: deforestation to reduce CO2 emissions Susanna Morrison-Métois, Hans Lundgren www.oecd.org/dac/evaluation OECD DAC Network on Development Evaluation Secretariat Comments and feedback on a previous draft of this paper were received from Lauren Kelly (IEG), Jeneen Rayes Garcia (GEF-IEO), and Balbir Singh (Norad). Why forests? Consensus on the need for international co-operation to combat climate change has resulted in increased attention to the role of forests in storing carbon and the large quantity of C02 emissions that could be avoided if deforestation was halted. Deforestation and forest degradation are the second leading human cause of CO2 emissions contributing to global warming according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.1 It is estimated that deforestation and forest degradation account for approximately 17 percent of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.2 Furthermore, tropical forests capture and store carbon – since the turn of the century tropical forests are estimated to have removed 22-26% of all human caused carbon emissions.3 Forests are also important storehouses of biodiversity and provide livelihoods for over a billion people worldwide including many living in extreme poverty.
    [Show full text]